| Explore |
We know that they need soil, sunlight, space and water. A seed is a ripened ovule or a fertilized flower. All seeds contain a diploid embryo and a food supply (fuels early growth). Seeds have a protective outer seed coat that encloses the embryonic root/hypocotyl/embryonic stem. Cotyledons: 1+ seed leaves Apical meristems: cells in the root or shoot tips. Primary growth: stem elongates/roots grow deeper in process. What are optimal conditions for a plant to grow in?
During germination, the seed takes up water, activating enzymes that release energy from its food storage that begins the growth process. The embryo then swells and lengthens, which results in the seed coat breaking open due to pressure. After, the root meristem is activated and the embryonic root pushes through. Finally, the cotyledons (embryonic leaves) break out and the shoot meristem is activated (Ladiges et al., 2017).
Reference
Ladiges, P., Koltunow, A., & Dixon, K. (2017, November 23). Just add water? Weird ways plants
germinate. Australian Academy of Science.
https://www.science.org.au/curious/earth-environment/plant-germination
This article discusses possible reasons for why seeds stay dormant, and how germination affects the seed as well. In both cases, the seed is sensitive to certain chemicals that can greatly impact either its dormancy or how it germinates. Mutations are one way that seeds stay dormant for as long as they do.
http://www.seedbiology.eu/pdf/koornneef2002s.pdf
Koorneef, M., Bentsink, L., & Hilhorst, H. (2002, February 1). Seed dormancy and germination. ScienceDirect. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S13695266010021
This article discusses the process of seed germination in detail. Also why seeds can be dormant and how that can affect germination. The article also discusses the process of a plant becoming mature and being able to be self-supporting. Until the plant can become self-sufficient it depends on resources from the parent sporophyte.
https://www.britannica.com/science/germination
Harrison, J. (2016). germination | Description, Dormancy, & Facts. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/science/germination
This article talks about germination, while informing readers of the parts of the seed and how germination affects them. In addition to explaining what germination is, the article touches on what seeds need in order to germinate. It also provides information on the temperature the soil needs to be at, the moisture levels and the amount of water intake.
https://iowaagliteracy.wordpress.com/2018/05/04/science-101-germination/
Iowaagliteracy, Cindy. “Science 101: Germination.” Iowa Agriculture Literacy, 5 May 2018, iowaagliteracy.wordpress.com/2018/05/04/science-101-germination/. |
| Experimental Design |
independent variable: method being used ; dependent variable: rate at which the seeds germinate
the control group would be a petri dish and a pot with no seeds
The data we are looking for is quantitative, the length of the plant will be measured each day (in mm)
Experiment:
Place five pea seeds in each of the containers five times (petri dish, water bottle, and pot), evenly spaced out.
Place five alfalfa seeds in each of the containers five times (petri dish, water bottle, and pot), evenly spaced out.
Follow the germination method for each container using the instructions on Wonder of seeds student packet, found on pages 11-12. The pot will have soil in it and be watered with three spurts of water from a water sprayer.
Once all seeds are in their respective container, place them in the same area of indirect sunlight outside.
Each day at 4:30 pm for two weeks, record any changes in the seeds, and measure any germination on the seed with a tape measure (mm side)
Hypothesis:
If each seed is placed into a petri dish then they will germinate at a faster rate because the seeds’ contact with the water is more direct. |